Tesla offers a monthly subscription to solve a common, but expensive owner's problem

There are few sounds more jarring to a driver than a rock smacking the windshield at highway speeds. This gut-wrenching moment is often followed by the discovery of a new chip or a crack snaking its way across the glass. As all Tesla owners know, this common annoyance can quickly become an expensive headache, with replacement costs often soaring past $1,000. In response, the EV giant has quietly introduced a new subscription service aimed at easing the financial sting of this all-too-frequent repair.

Dubbed the Windshield Protection Plan, this new offering functions as a specialized insurance policy for your front glass. For a monthly fee, Tesla promises to handle most of the hassle and cost associated with windshield damage. This plan is separate from the company's broader Extended Service Agreement (ESA), focusing solely on one of the most vulnerable parts of any vehicle.

The benefits are straightforward: subscribers get one free windshield replacement every 12 months with no deductible. Should misfortune strike more than once a year, any subsequent replacements come with a $100 co-pay. The plan also includes unlimited repairs for smaller chips and minor cracks.

The cost of this peace of mind varies depending on which Tesla model is parked in your driveway. For Model 3 and Model Y owners, the subscription is priced at $12 per month. The larger and more complex glass on the flagship Model S commands a $15 monthly fee, while the panoramic windshield of the Model X tops the chart at $23 per month. These fees cover the cost of Tesla-certified OEM glass and, crucially, the necessary recalibration of the Autopilot cameras.

New owners of either a brand-new or used Tesla must sign up for the Windshield Protection Plan within 30 days of taking delivery of their vehicle. The enrollment process is handled directly through the Tesla mobile app, under the "Upgrades" and "Service Plans" menus, where eligible owners will find the option to subscribe.

If you miss the initial 30-day window, there are a couple of alternative paths to enrollment. If you have recently paid out-of-pocket for a windshield replacement at a Tesla Service Center, you are granted a new 30-day period to subscribe to the plan. Additionally, Tesla plans to offer a complimentary vehicle inspection, which, if passed, will also open up the opportunity to join. This inspection program is expected to launch around July 2025.

Conspicuously absent from this new program is the company's most talked-about vehicle: the Cybertruck. This exclusion is surprising given that early reports place the out-of-pocket replacement cost for a Cybertruck windshield at a steep $2,300 or more. For now, Cybertruck owners will have to rely on their standard auto insurance policies and hope their deductibles are forgiving. The plan is currently only available in the United States, but Tesla has indicated that it plans to expand the service to Canada and Mexico in the near future.

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